By King Amoah.
Nana Boakye Yiadom Atonsa II, the chief of Denase, a town along the Kumasi-Offinso Road in the Ashanti region and also the Atenehene of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene, has called on parliamentarians to prioritize the implementation of a National Policy Concept than the party manifestos, to ensure effective and sustainable economic development.
In an exclusive interview in Kumasi on Nana Atonsa II expressed his dissatisfaction with the current reliance on party manifestos, arguing that this approach is a bane to long-term progress and fosters political manipulation.
According to Nana Atonsa II, Ghana’s development has been stalled for too long due to the absence of a consistent, overarching national policy framework. He lamented that successive governments, with the exception of military regimes, have largely relied on their own party agendas and manifestos to govern, leading to inconsistent policies and limited long-term positive outcomes.
This constant shifting of focus, he argued, has prevented the country from achieving its full potential.
The chief acknowledged the existing legal framework and democratic structures but argued that the current system allows political parties to prioritize their own supporters and agendas when in power.
This, he believes, leads to discrimination in areas such as job opportunities and contract awards, undermining national unity and equitable development.
Nana Atonsa II emphasized that a National Policy Concept would mitigate such political manipulation. He drew a parallel with developed nations, where progress is driven by adherence to comprehensive national policies that transcend political cycles.
He advocated for a system where a well-defined national plan is in place, ensuring continuity and preventing presidents from unilaterally altering developmental trajectories.
“The secret behind the development and progress of the advanced countries stemmed from the fact that they apply National Policy to administer their economies,” Nana Atonsa II stated, “and no president has the authority to change it because actions and plans of developing the country are already put in place.”
He described the National Policy plan as the best option for Ghana’s development and urged immediate action.
Explaining the crucial role of parliamentarians, Nana Atonsa II urged them to take the lead in introducing a National Policy Concept and discourage the reliance on partisan manifestos as the sole guiding document for governance.
He pointed to the legacy of the first late President, Dr Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, suggesting that his vision aligned with a national policy approach that had the potential to transform the country.
However, the subsequent abandonment of this direction, he said, has contributed to Ghana’s current developmental challenges.
Nana Boakye Yiadom Atonsa II expressed hope that his call for the institutionalization of a National Policy Concept would be heeded, as it promises to fundamentally change the trajectory of the country, ensuring equitable benefits for all Ghanaians, irrespective of political affiliation.
He also believes that adopting this approach will pave the way for sustained economic growth and overall national prosperity.
